What can an over weight woman do to make sure that she has a healthy pregnancy?

Question

I am 8 weeks pregnant, and I want to start being more healthy now more than ever that I am pregnant. What can I do to ensure that I have a great pregnancy? I have been thinking about going for walks for 30-45 minnutes everyday, and eating a healthy diet according to the food pyrmaid. However, I am worried if I do all of that I will lose weight. I am 242 now. And only want to gain 15-20 pounds with this baby. If I started doing that and I lost some weight would the baby still be healthy? I just don't want to sit on my *ss the rest of the pregnancy eating junk food just so I wont lose weight. I really want both me and the baby to be healthy.

I'm not obsessed with losing weight.. that is not what my question was about. I want to start walking daily or swmming and eating healthier.. which will proabably make me lose some weight to start with becuase I dont do that right now.

So I was just wondering if I start walking and eating healthy will it be okay if I do drop some weight.. since the weight that comes off should be excess fat anyway.

I am taking my prenatal vitamins everyday since I found out! I know how important they are!

Answer 1

You're doing just fine. I'm glad that you want to have a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby. Ask your doctor about your caloric needs, a pregnant woman only needs an extra 300 calories per day, so you don't need much more than usual.
Take your prenatal vitamins EVERY DAY. That is the most important thing to do.
Walking is a great thing, as well. It will help keep your body in shape, keep your cardiovascular system in order, and make labor easier.
If you lose a few pounds in the beginnning of pregnancy, don't worry. You're really not supposed to gain much (if any) during the first trimester, and tons of women lose weight due to morning sickness anyways. Just try to keep it to 1 lb a week.
15-20 pounds is a perfect goal. A woman of healthy weight is supposed to gain 25-35, a woman who is overweight, 15-25, so you are right in that bracket. Just keep up all the great work and you will have a great pregnancy. Congratulations and good luck!!

Answer 2

I think you are very smart for thinking about this. I am also an over weight pregnant woman. I am now 25 weeks pregnant.

If you are not trying to loose weight...and you are just trying to get a healthier lifestyle. Then you and your baby will be fine. Just make sure you don't loose to much weight. Your Doctor will just watch you and your baby more closely. As long as you don't go and loose 100 pounds...then you will be fine. A few pounds here and there won't be bad.

As of this point, I have lost 14 pounds. I have yet put any of it back on. (I even lost one more pound at my last visit) My doctor isn't worried about it. My baby is very healthy, and is even on the larger size.

With my last pregnancy in the begining I started off by loosing alot of weight due to really bad Morning sickness. Then by the end of my pregnancy I only gained a total of 9 pounds. I had an 8.9 pound baby girl. She is now a very happy, very active little girl. (Who at this time has no weight problem. And I am planning on keeping it this way)

If you are not used to walking...then I would start with short walks, then work yourself up to the 45 minute ones. As your pregnancy gets further along you are going to find the walking a bit more on the difficutlt side. So, start now.

Good luck to you, and enjoy your pregnancy.

Answer 3

You need to eat right for the baby. Walking is good for you and so is swimming. That will help you when it comes time to give birth. Being active makes an easier labor. I would just try to eat right and then after the baby is born, work on trying to get the weight off. I gained 40 lbs with my son and I weighed 140 before I got pregnant. If you want exercises to do while pregnant, go to babycenter.com or something. They usually have all kinds of useful information.

Answer 4

It sounds like you're doing everything right. Eat a healthy balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Don't diet (cut calories) just get those calories through better healthier foods. If you don't already have an exercise program you shouldn't start one now, but walking and swimming are fine. Don't overwork yourself though. If you lose some weight that shouldn't be a problem, the doctor will let you know if they have any concerns. You may even call them and let them know what you're doing, but you should be fine.

Answer 5

I was 216 pounds when I got pregnant. I didn't want my weight to hurt my baby so I ate better and did exercise a little. I just cut out junk food, I couldn't stand bacon or red meat, and stopped drinking sodas and drank a lot more water. I lost 16 pounds during the first 5 months of my pregnancy. My doctor watched me closely. I lost the weight from my butt and thighs but my baby and stomach got bigger (like normal). I gained back the 16 pounds the last few months of pregnancy and two weeks after giving birth I was down to 182 pounds. I wish I would have kept it off. So, yes, you can lose weight (slowly and carefully with your doctor's approval).

Answer 6

I've been thinking about this also. I'm overweight, even after losing 30 pounds earlier in the year. I just don't want to gain 60 pounds like I did with my son...I'd never get it back off!!! My doctor told me that walking would be the safest bet for me while I'm pregnant, especially since I never exercise at all. Don't over-do it. Watch what you eat and when you eat it. Try to avoid sweets and fried foods if possible. Luckily, at this point anyway, I'm craving more veggies than anything.
Good Luck!

Answer 7

Walking is fantastic! It will make for an easier labor and faster recovery! At 242, you don't HAVE to gain anything. I am around the same weight(not sure how you're built, but I'm 130lbs of muscle), and haven't gained and my doctor is surprised, but happy. I have a personal trainer and see her for 1hr per week, and in the mean time try to walk as much as I can. It may even mean parking far away from stores or taking the kids to the zoo. Its very important for you to keep your body moving to keep the weight gain at bay. Feel free to email me if you need more tips or advice. Yes, it is okay to lose weight during pregnancy(due to eating healthy and exercising...not fasting, crash dieting, or pills). Don't aim to lose weight though, just aim to be healthy. :)

Answer 8

there is no quick fix now your pregnant you can't diet or try to lose weight because your pregnant you need the extra calories to feed your baby.
the only thing you can do is eat as healthy as possible you can exercise but not to the extent you want to you will find walking for that long everyday will ware you out

try relaxing yoga or Pilate's with exercises that are safe during pregnancy some websites do pre natal-post natal DVDs
and always consult a doctor before starting anything new.
worry about the weight when you give birth

Answer 9

Losing a small amount of weight by eating healthier and exercising is acceptable. What they don't want are people trying to do crash diets and restricting their intake to keep from over gaining. As long as you are getting a proper amount of calories for you and the baby through good foods you will be fine. Walking, swimming and other low impact exercises will help reduce a lot of the risks accociated with being heavier and pregnant such as blood pressure problems and sweeling. Congratulations.

Answer 10

Oh well, just take it easy, thats the best thing to do dont worry about gaining weight, just dont do all that eat for two rubbish - its aload of bollocks! Dont go on a diet, a baby shouldn't be deprived of the nutrients it needs just so that you wont gain weight. Just dont give in to pregnancy cravings, when you feel like chocolate, eat fruit or chew gum, it helped me and i went back into my size 4 jeans 6 weeks after my baby was born in May, so just eat well and healthily!